Educational V Baldwin Elementary

Educational V Baldwin Elementary is a PK-5 school in Hope Mills, NC, serving 634 students within Cumberland County Schools. While the school sits in the 21st percentile statewide and holds a 1-star rating, a closer look at the data reveals a more nuanced story, with a few genuine bright spots alongside clear areas for improvement.

Perhaps the most encouraging finding is that Baldwin's 4th grade reading proficiency (59.1%) actually exceeds both the district and state averages, proving that students here can reach grade-level standards. The concern, however, is a steep drop-off by 5th grade, where reading proficiency falls to 31.6% and math to 38.8%, roughly 24 points behind the state in reading. This consistent weakness in upper elementary grades suggests a transition issue worth investigating. Additionally, Baldwin serves a nearly universal low-income population (99.5% free/reduced lunch), but its attendance record is improving, with chronic absenteeism falling from 37.6% to 29.1%, below the district average.

When compared to immediate neighbors, the data defies simple explanations. E Melvin Honeycutt Elementary, just 3.6 miles away, serves an identical poverty population yet ranks in the 82nd percentile, while Rockfish Elementary, only 1.36 miles away, outperforms Baldwin by double digits in most subjects. These comparable schools show that high poverty does not dictate low performance. The data also shows that money and class size alone aren't the answer, as J W Coon Elementary spends far more per student with smaller classes yet ranks lower than Baldwin. The most urgent concern is special education, where students rank in the 8th percentile and have declined significantly, while the school's relative strength lies with Hispanic students, who rank in the 62nd percentile.